License-plate holder and illuminator



C. D. BREITZKE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER AND ILLUMINA'roR Aug. 14, 1923. www@ Filed March 24. 1922 2 Sheets- Sheet l Aug. 14, 1923. M6496@ C. D. BREITZKE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER AND ILLFINATOR Filed March 24. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` @Noz new Patented ug. l, 1923.

CHARLES D. BREITZKE, OF MADISON, VJISCONSN.

'mennsnlrns'rn nomina ann innuiuinaroa.

Application tiled March 24, 1922. Serial No. 546,245.

To all wioml'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. B n'nirznn, a citizen of. the United States.' residing at Madisonyin'V the county of Dane 'anc State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LicensesPlate Holders and Illuminators,v of which the following is a specication. l N

This invention has relation Vto'v certain new and useful improvements in a Vlicense plate holder and yill'uminator for motor vehiclesand has for its primary object the provisionof a device of'thischaracter which may be readily Vmounted on vehicles of various types so as to properly support the license plate` in a `manner which will permit the number,'tlie name and the Stat-eigranting the licenseto befreadily observed at a considerable distance even in time of' darkness. Theinvent-ionhasfor another object the provision of a device. of the "character stated Hwhich will be of extremely simple and inexpensive construction and to which the license'plate may be readily secured so as to be properly positioned and .illuminated according to the State or National Awritten regulations and laws relatingto such matters.` Y Y A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character stated in which the casing carried by the supportingplate may serve not only as the supporting means for the license plate but also as the casing for the illuminating lamp and the reflector so that the numbers and other characters on the license plate may be readily observed when the license plate is carried -by the device positioned properly on the opposite ends of the motor vehicle.

Y The invention has for a still further object the provision of Ya device of the character stated which will ybe composed of the mini# mum number of parts, comparatively inexpensive and may be adapted to comply with the regulations of various States in reference to such matters and serve as a protection to the parties adapting the same as well as other parties and in fact the general public. l

With the foregoing and other objects in view as willappear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more speciically set forth, claimed and shown in;

Figure 3 is a top plan 1fiew of the complete device.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the completedevice. p

Figure 5 is a longitudinal horizontal section substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. l, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a transverse verticalV section substantially on the plane Vof line 6-6 or Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. y

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, l indicates the supporting plate which may be secured to tie motor ve hicle by suitable securing members passed through the openings 2 of the corner por* tionsnof the plate l and while'this plate is shown as beingof rectangular form, it may be of any construction desired. The plate l serves to support the casing` 3 which is also of rectangular form and has a flat rear portion secured on the outer face of the supporting plate l, as'will be readily understood by referring to the drawings. The casing 3 may be secured in position on the plate l' by vsecuring members 4 or by any other method or means. The casing 3 has its sides curved outwardly and the end portions 5 of the casing 3 are also curved outwardly, as sh'own clearly in Figs. 3 and 5. The casing 3 has suitable openings in one portion, preferably the lower side thereof` with inwardly directed lianges 6 around the openings to receive electric lamps 7 or bulbs which may be connected with any suitable source of electric energy: not shown7 for lighting the lamps or bulbs 7. The casing 3 may be of metal or any other suitable material and the inner face of the casing sides and ends should be constructed in such a manner as to serve as a reflector for clearly illuminating the license plate secured to the outer open side of the casing, as will be described in detail.

The entire Outer Side of the casing is closed by the license plate 8 which may be formed of metal, celluloid or any other suitable material and Vwhich have the license number, the name of the Sta-te and the date cut therein or painted or stamped upon the license plate in any preferred and Well known manner. In order to properly support the license plate 8 the casing 3 has its longitudinal free .edges turned back to form the supporting upper and lower flanges 9. The end edges of the casing 3 are also turned back to forni .the supporting end flanges l0 and these supporting end flanges 10 are offset inwardly from the flanges 9, so as to provide a receiving groove for the license plate 8. It is therefore evident that the license plate 8 mus-t be inserted .or removed from one end of the casing and the license plate 8 may be secured in proper position by suitable securing members 1l passed through corner portions thereof and through the inivardly'ol'set end flanges l0, as shown clearly in Figs. l, 2, e, 5 and 6. It is evident from the formation of the casing 3 and the manner of supporting the license plate S thereon, the numbers and otherrcharacters on the license plate may be clearly illuminated so as to be seen for a considerable distance when the motor 1 vehicle is traveling at 4a considerable rate of speed.

It is believed that the complete construction and operation of this device may now be readily understood by referring to the rforeeoino" oarafrra lis taken in connection Y C C with the accompanying drawings and further detailed description is unnecessary. It may be briefly stated, however, that the .en-

arrangement of parts may be resorted to Within the scope of what is claimed Without departing-from the spirit of the'invention, t isto be understood that the casing may be constructed of any size desired, or in proportion to the indicia carried by the plate or cover 8. Y c l lVhat I claim isz Y A license plate supportingl an illuminat ing device comprising arcasing formed of an alienate central section tapering smaller towards its center, top and bottom arcuate sections connected thereto, the interior of said easing forming a reflector, linwardly ex;- tending and opposed longitudinal flanges formed on said top and bottom sections, additional inwardly bent andv opposed end flanges formed on the ends of said central section, the latter fianges: being disposed in a vertical plane in the rear of the plane of the lirst mentioned flanges, a license plate slidably 'supported between the aforesaid flanges, and means for securing said license plate to.. saidrend flanges, and illuminating means mounted in said casing,`

In testimony whereof 'I -aHiX my signature.

CHARLES D. BREITZKE. 

